No chit chat, I will jump straight into what I read in May.
Continue reading “May 2026 Reading Wrap Up”
Tag: thriller
Cold Cases and Warm Hearts: Exploring “All the Missing Pieces” by Catherine Cowles
All the Missing Pieces by Catherine Cowles
18+ Contains Adult Content
All the Missing Pieces follows Ridley, who is a true crime podcaster; she travels the country covering cold cases. Ridley lost her twin sister, Avery, the night before their college graduation; all that was left were Avery’s keys. Ridley knows what it feels like to lose someone and never get answers, which is what makes her a caring, sensitive and respectful podcaster. Ridley’s latest cold case takes her to Shady Grove, where she is covering a cold case from 10 years ago in which a young girl was taken, but she managed to get away. This may be the first time Ridley has a victim she can speak with, said, victim is the Sheriff’s sister, and Sheriff Colter Brooks will be damned if some podcaster comes into his town and stirs up trouble. Well, that is, until Ridley’s case goes from cold to smoking hot in one leap, putting her in danger. Colt does what any respectable Sheriff would do and moves her into his house to keep her safe.
That was the one thing these monsters didn’t realize. They thought they were only ending one life, but it was so many more. The ripple effect of cruel violence that would live on for generations to come, all of us still breathing branded by it.
Unravelling Past Secrets: A Deep Dive into C.J. Tudor’s “The Chalk Man”
The Chalk Man by C.J. Tudor
The Chalk Man is a mystery/thriller that follows Eddie and his friends. In 1986, as preteens, the group came across the body of a young girl, but her head was nowhere to be found. This was all strange enough as is, but what led the boys to the girl’s body in the first place was even stranger…drawings of chalk men. Now in 2016, the boys are adults, and not as close-knit as they once were. Eddie knows who they say killed the girl, but he doesn’t believe it. It’s been 30 years, but maybe they can figure out who actually killed her.
It never came. There were extensive searches, questions and appeals but, despite the best efforts of all the detectives and all the town’s men, her head was never found, and the girl in the woods was never put together again.
March 2026: Reading Wrap Up
I feel like I am doing awful at reading this year! I have only read 18 books so far which is not good for me.
Anyway I read 5 books this month so lets get to it.
Continue reading “March 2026: Reading Wrap Up”
Book Club Insights: My Take on The Locked Door by Freida McFadden
The Locked Door by Freida McFadden
Nora is a respected surgeon who has a big secret; nobody knows that she is the daughter of a serial killer, that while Nora lay upstairs, her father was butchering women in the basement. Nora has given herself a new name and holds her secret close to her chest, but when her young female patients start turning up dead in the same manner as her father’s victims, she starts to think someone knows who she really is and wants her to take the fall for these crimes.
As I contemplate my next move, a thought flits through my head. One that I have not infrequently when I’m in difficult situations: what would my father do?
February 2026 Reading Wrap-Up
I had a better reading month this month than I did last month. I did, however, have 1 DNF this month, but life is too short to read books you don’t vibe with. I did aim to read more this month than I did, but oh well lol.
Here is what I read, what I rated them and if I recommend them. All books except my DNF have full reviews up on here if you want to read them.
Exploring Love and Danger in Mr. Sin by S.J. Tilly
Mr. Sin by S.J. Tilly
18+ Contains Adult Content
Mr Sin follows Sasha & Vincent, who meet in Vegas and have a one-night stand. Imagine Sasha’s surprise when she learns that Vincent is her new client, the guy everyone has known as Mr Sin. Vincent is just as shocked as Sasha, but since Sasha left before giving him one last tussle in the sheets, he naturally pulls her into his office to rectify that. Sasha can’t let her boss at the PR company she works at know that she has been/is involved with Vincent, but the more that gets unravelled about Vincent, his past & his feelings for Sasha, the less she can stay away. So when a crazy man from the past looks to hurt Vincent, Sasha becomes the target. Can Vincent save her, or will he be too late?
The head is still very sore, so again I have no idea what I have written below…hopefully it makes sense haha.
His lips are full, tipped into a small frown and sinfully sexy. As if beckoned, my gaze snaps up and I find myself looking into the eyes of the Devil.
Love, Betrayal, and Horror: Exploring the Twisted Tale of “Fractured” by A.L. Maruga
Fractured by A.L. Maruga
18+ Contains Adult Content
Fractured is an erotic horror that follows Cordelie, who walks in on her boyfriend cheating on her with her childhood best friend. Heartbroken, she starts to lose herself and those around her. When she has the chance to sign up for an anti-Valentine’s app, she does. One night, no names, no mercy and hidden identities. A night for Cordelie to live out her fantasy, to be chased through the woods and be devoured by a mystery masked man. This could be what she needs to get over Noah once and for all. The only thing is that Cordelie thinks she’s meeting a stranger, but she is wrong. Cordelie has been stalked long before she signed up for the app; now he controls the rules, and he won’t let her escape. This is a toxic love story that does not have a happy ending.
I also want to apologise if this review was all over the place. I have the beginnings of a migraine, which means my head hurts and my vision is very fuzzy, but I needed to get this written up as it’s nearly the end of February.
He was the villain in my story, and not the white knight he tried to convince me he was. We knew, we just didn’t want to believe he would hurt us.
Discover My Top Reads: 13 Books I Devoured This November and Their Ratings
This month has been a really good month for me reading wise. I’ve managed to read 13 books this month 🙂 Here is what I read and what I rated it 🙂
I started the month with an ARC from Nova Kane, so you already know it was a good start to the month! I read Blood & Throttle, which I devoured! This was Death Race but on bikes, and it was amazing. I gave it 5 stars.
I then read Queens of Ruin by Selena Collins. I read this because I needed to read a book beginning with Q for my alphabet challenge, and I had this on my Kindle. I didn’t enjoy it. The idea was good, the execution not so much. I gave it 2.5 stars.
I then read the book I was most excited for this month! Veradel by Mariah Montoya and Grace Pearce. This was book two in the Guardians and Monsters duology. I read Xantera last month and was obsessed, so I had been eagerly waiting for this ARC to pop in my inbox, and I was just as obsessed with this one as I was with Xantera! 5 stars. This is a new favourite duology for me!
I then listened to and ALC of Dark Desires by Effie Campbell. I enjoyed the narrators, but felt the spice-to-plot ratio was too heavy in the spice direction. I still enjoyed it, just didn’t love it. I gave it 3.5 stars.
I then read Of Darkness and Ruination by Rachel Fallon. This was on my 12 months, 12 Friends, 12 books challenge. I enjoyed this; the only issue was that it was very, very similar to ACOTAR. Had I not read ACOTAR already, then I would have probably given this book 5 stars, but because it was so similar, I kept unintentionally comparing the two books, and Calix just didn’t hit the same as Rhysand for me, and so I gave it 4 stars.
I then read Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck. I never read this in school, as I think my set did Jane Eyre, anyway, I had to read a classic as part of my StoryGraph challenge, and I picked this because it was 121 pages and figured I could manage that. I’m not a classics girlie, but this was okay. I felt rather uncomfortable reading it, though, which was maybe the point of the book, I dunno. I gave it 3 stars.
I then had another ALC, this one was Becoming Justice by Liv Macy. I hadn’t heard of this author prior to this, but I really enjoyed listening to this. I gave it 4 stars.
I then read A Wife for the Blacksmith by Viola Grey, because I needed a Historical Fiction for my 52 book challenge, I swear these challenges got me reading all sorts of books outta my comfort zone…I guess that’s the point of them though haha. I picked this because it was short, and it was okay. I gave it 3.5 stars.
I then read Mariposa by Lexi Axelson. I’ve wanted to read See You Soon by her, but for some reason, I’m scared to start that book, so I read this one instead. I did not expect to cry reading this book, but I sobbed! 4 stars.
I then read You May Now Kill The Bride by Kate Weston. This had been on my TBR for over a year, and I needed a book beginning with Y to finish my book alphabet, lol. I enjoyed it. I don’t read much mystery/thriller these days, but it was once my comfort genre, so it’s always fun to go back to that genre. I gave it 4 stars.
I then received an ARC of Fatal Collision by Harleigh Beck. You all know by now that Harleigh is one of my favourite authors. I loved this book! Kane had me swooning, giggling, kicking my feet the lot! I can’t wait for book 2. 5 stars!
I then read Fost by Lo Gold, which was another ARC. This was a monster romance, which isn’t a genre I’ve read much of. I enjoyed it, but didn’t love it. 3.5 stars.
I finished the month with Sweet Doe by Melissa McSherry and Dana LeeAnn. I had read the first book in this duet last year and loved that. I didn’t love this one quite the same, and I ended up giving it 3.5 stars.
There should be full reviews for all these books on my blog (except of mice and men).
My favourite book of the month is Veradel.
My top 3 favourite books this month are:
Veradel
Blood & Throttle
Fatal Collision
I hope you all had a good reading month.
Now it’s on to Christmas books xD
Complete A-Z Book Alphabet Challenge: My Reviews
So I am super stoked that this year I managed to complete my A-Z Book Alphabet challenge. I tried this challenge last year, but I was missing 5 letters.
So here is my book alphabet. If you are also doing this challenge and are struggling with any letters, maybe this will help you.
A
I read Autopsy of a Fairytale by Nicole Scarano.
I gave this book 5 stars.
B
I read Binding 13 by Chloe Walsh
I gave this book 5 stars
C
I read The Crimson Moth by Kristen Ciccarelli
I gave this 5 stars also.
I then thought, does that technically start with T because it’s The Crimson Moth? So I also have Chokehold by Harleigh Beck & Leigh Rivers. I also gave that book 5 stars.
D
I read Dangerous Allure by Ashlynn.
I gave this book 4 stars.
E
I read Endo by Nova Kane.
I gave this book 4 stars.
F
I read Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros.
I gave this book 5 stars.
G
I read God of Malice by Rina Kent
I gave this book 5 stars.
H
I read Hard Game by Linzvonc
I gave this book 5 stars.
I
I read Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros.
I gave this book 5 stars.
J
I read Judgement by Tulisa.
I gave this 5 stars.
K
I read Keeping 13 by Chloe Walsh.
I gave this book 5 stars.
L
I read Liar by Tate James.
I gave this book 5 stars. I loved this series.
M
I read Make Me by Alina May
I gave this book 5 stars.
N
I read Nocturne Abyss by Dakota Wilde.
I gave this book 5 stars.
O
I read Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros.
I gave this book 5 stars.
P
I read Protecting Poppy by Annie Charme.
I gave this book 3.5 stars.
Q
I read Queens of Ruin by Selena Collins.
I gave this book 2.5 stars.
R
I read Rebel Witch by Kristen Ciccarelli.
I gave this book 5 stars
S
I read Sinister by Michaella Dieter
I gave this book 4 stars
T
I read the Tangled in Taboo anthology by multiple authors.
I gave it 5 stars.
U
I read Unholy by Kinsley Kincaid
I gave this 5 stars.
V
I read Vigilante by C.J. Riggs and Dakota Wilde.
I gave this 4 stars.
W
I read Wanted by Lauren Biel
I gave this 3.5 stars.
X
I read Xantera by Mariah Montoya and Grace Pearce.
I gave this 5 stars. I’m obsessed with this duology.
Y
I read You May Now Kill The Bride by Kate Weston.
I gave this book 4 stars.
Z
I read Zodiac Academy Sorrow and Starlight
I gave this 4 stars. I love this series so much, this was my least favourite book so far, though.
I know you’re thinking, Jeez, she rates so many of them 5 stars, and what can I say, I know what authors I like and which friends to listen to when they recommend books, lol. I can be quite a generous rater. I think I will do a post at the end of the year/beginning of next year, going over the books I read in 2025 and what I rated them and if I would change that rating or not.
